Wakeup Call

On the eve of the NHL All-Star Game, Graham Hays of espn.com compiled a list of 10 ways to make hockey more exciting. Suggestion No. 2 was serving more Canadian beer.

"If you want people of legal drinking age to show up for a game between Nashville and Phoenix when it's warm enough outside for the golf course to be taking reservations, you can't serve them beer that tastes like it skipped a few steps on that journey from the mountain spring," Hays wrote.

"Put a nice Kokanee tap at the concession stand, and it's going to be a lot easier to settle in for an evening of watching David Legwand battle Ossi Vaananen."

RELISH THE THOUGHT

Jay Mariotti of the Chicago Sun-Times believes the White Sox should grant outfielder Magglio Ordonez's wish and sign him to a long-term deal in the range of the five-year, $70-million contract received by Angel outfielder Vladimir Guerrero.

"He's 30, in the prime of his career and sure to be productive another five seasons," Mariotti wrote. As South Side no-brainers go, keeping Maggs is right up there with ordering the kosher dog without onions at the stand behind home plate."

SAME OLD DIGGER

From the Sporting News' Caught on the Fly column: "In its ongoing 25th anniversary celebration of covering college basketball, ESPN featured a "Turn Back the Clock' game between Indiana and Michigan State last weekend.

"To give viewers the feel of 1979, the broadcast included old-school uniforms for the players, retro clothing for the announcers, clunky on-air graphics and a lucid comment from Digger Phelps."

GETTING TWIGGY WITH IT

Kansas State guard Twiggy McIntyre, whose given name is Jetta Archel McIntyre, isn't named after the pencil-thin British model of the 1960s.

"When I was born, I practically had no hair except for one strand that stuck straight up," McIntyre told Associated Press. "My grandmother thought it was like a twig, so she's been calling me "Twiggy' ever since."

UNGRATEFUL GUEST

Former California gubernatorial candidate Nate Walton, son of NBA legend Bill, told the College Sports Television network about his father's brush with the White House.

Said Nate, "When my dad won the national championship at UCLA in 1973, they turned down the offer to go to the White House and instead wrote a letter to Richard Nixon asking him for his resignation."

TRIVIA TIME

Who were the oldest coaches and managers to win titles in the four major professional sports?

Answer: George Halas won an NFL title at 68 years, 11 months; Scotty Bowman won the Stanley Cup at 68 years, 8 months; Jack McKeon won the World Series at 72 years, 10 months; Chuck Daly won the NBA championship at 59 years, 9 months.

Wakeup Call is a collection of observations from sports figures and writers worldwide.